Set up target platform for Riena apps

For a Riena-based application to compile, a certain set of bundles (plug-ins) must be available at compile time. This set of bundles is known as a
target platform. Follow the steps outlined in either of the following two sections to set up the target platform for Riena applications (based on Riena 1.2.0).

The Target Definition editor will open. Wait for the "Resolving Target Definition…" job in the status bar (bottom right) to finish. Then click on 'Set as Target Platform'.

Done.

Experts: Manual Setup

Download Eclipse IDE 3.5.x for your platform and start with a blank workspace.

Create a new Target Platform definition that contains "Equinox Project SDK" and "Eclipse RCP SDK" from the Galileo Software Site (the RCP SDK will be only visible if you uncheck "Group by Category")

If you'd like to install Riena 1.1.0 from the Galileo Repository add Riena Core SDK and Riena SDK Samples.

If you'd like to install Riena 1.2.0. from the above update site then there are two entries for "Riena Core SDK" and "Riena SDK Samples" (a temporaray problem). Please select all four entries and add them to your target platform.

Activate the platform.

Done.

Code Templates and Examples

In this section you will get a feel of the Riena framework by building and running applications built with Riena:

We show you how to build your first Riena application, either using a template or starting from scratch.

We briefly explain what Ridgets ("Riena widgets") are; an extensive set of snippets will show you how to use them.

Sample applications will give you a glimpse of Riena features such as Remote Services and of Riena's UI/Navigation approach.

Build your first Riena application

The easiest way to start building a Riena application is to use a template included in the Riena Templates Feature. Of course, you can also write a Riena app from scratch.

If you prefer to roll your own

Try the Riena Snippets

The Riena Snippets page contains a growing collection of self-contained code examples that show you how to use ridgets ("Riena widgets") and what you can do with them.

What are ridgets?

A ridget wraps an actual UI widget but offers a higher level of abstraction and it is independent from the UI toolkit (SWT). The idea is to separate the UI (view) from the logic behind it, which is moved to a view controller. The view controller interacts with the actual UI widgets through the ridgets. It
should be possible to reuse a view controller with a view that is based on a different UI toolkit (e.g. Swing).

A ridget offers the most commonly-used functionality (like setText(String) of a
text field) along with some extra convenience functionality like markers. A textfield can be marked as error by adding an ErrorMarker. The marking itself (changing color, setting icons, etc.) is handled
by the Riena framework. Another example is the bindToModel(...) method for a simple
databinding with a JavaBean.

The overall intention is to reduce the complexity for the application developer
and to ensure a common look & feel across the application. If the functionality
offered by the ridget's interface is not sufficient the developer can always
access the actual UI widget. (Then of course he loses the independence from the
UI toolkit). The set of ridgets is constantly getting bigger. If necessary it
should be possible for applications to add its own ridgets.

In the view you create SWT controls as always and register them with Riena (addUIControl(...)). The ridgets will be injected into the controller, where you then have access to the corresponding ridgets.